Stefan Rebenich

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)During the last days of World War II, Dresden, the magnificent city of art, was destroyed and burned. There has been no lack of reconstruction attempts since then. Even less lacking, the reverence paid to the beautiful memories. Currently, the Saxon State and University Library has a documentary exhibition entitled, Bloom, Florence [...]

In Thomas Mann’s novel Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man: The Early Years, when the protagonist of the book is asked by a hotel director whether he can speak Italian, the author lets him answer directly in Italian, not in German: “Ma Signore, che cosa mi domanda. Son veramente innamorato di questa bellissima lingua, la […]

One fascination of the German language is its complex simplicity. No other language comes to mind that is similarly capable of combining words in such a manner that they take on completely new meanings. From but a lone root word, one can create countless variations with completely new meanings simply by placing a different and […]

When Dolce far niente ["the sweetness of doing nothing"] collides with German virtues Germans and Italians – what an ancient, glorious symbiosis! Giorgio de Chirico, Giorgio Strehler, Claudio Magris – the list of Italian artists and intellectuals who held and/or hold Germany in esteem can be extended endlessly. Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni – as [...]

One is justifiably proud, in Italy, of a venerable culinary tradition. The first cookbook in the world was printed here in 1465, the De honesta voluptate (“On Honest Indulgence”), written by the Papal librarian Palatina; and cutlery, which was already in use here since the antiquity, was only adopted by the rest of Europe several […]

The Garden of Eden by Allen Jones The British artist of Allen Jones graces Casanuova di Nittardi Vigna Doghessa 2016. His provocative works already divided the art world in the 60s. He was a central figure of “Swinging London”, and also often visited New York City and his friend Andy Warhol. Allen Jones sees himself […]

From Original to Facsimile Paolo Veronese (1528–1588), alongside Titian and Tintoretto the most important representative of Venetian Renaissance painting, received the commission on 6 June 1562 from the Benedictines of the San Giorgio Maggiore Monastery in Venice to paint The Wedding at Cana for their refectory. Completed in 1563, the monumental painting of 6.77m x […]

500 Jahre Leonardo da Vinci: Großes Jubiläumsjahr zum TodestagThe painter Angelika Kauffmann (1741-1807), born in Chur, Switzerland, but originally based in Vorarlberg, used the attributes of beauty and eternal youth, learning, musicality, sensitivity, and the cult of friendship to surround herself with a pop-star-like mythos. She merged international success and great fame with extraordinary productivity [...]

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) This year across the world, there are going to be hundreds of events celebrating the 500th anniversary of the death of the polymathic genius, Leonardo da Vinci. Hard to believe that he was born as the illegitimate son of a notary, Pietro, and a maid, Caterina. His mother [...]

The strongest Italian film this year was Matteo Garrone's Dogman. Probably the only reason it didn't get an Oscar nomination is because it depicts a hard, unembellished side of the country. The Roman director once again turns to the ambience that already bore fruit in his Gomorrah (2008) and L'imbalsamatore ["The Embalmer"] (2002): the dark [...]

500 Years Leonardo da Vinci: In Celebration of the Anniversary of His DeathThe works of Leonardo da Vinci exude a hint of chilliness. In his The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, in defiance of mother and grandmother a mischievous Christ child twists a baby lamb's neck. His angels in both versions of Virgin of [...]